Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-8-2006
Publication Title
Environmental Health Perspectives
Department
Department of Chemistry
Additional Department
Department of Earth Sciences
Abstract
Although many amphibian populations around the world are declining at alarming rates, the cause of most declines remains unknown. Environmental contamination is one of several factors implicated in declines and may have particularly important effects on sensitive developmental stages. Despite the severe effects of maternal transfer of contaminants on early development in other vertebrate lineages, no studies have examined the effects of maternal transfer of contaminants on reproduction or development in amphibians. We examined maternal transfer of contaminants in eastern narrow-mouth toads (Gastrophryne carolinensis) collected from a reference site and near a coal-burning power plant. Adult toads inhabiting the industrial area transferred significant quantities of selenium and strontium to their eggs, but Se concentrations were most notable (up to 100 μg/g dry mass). Compared with the reference site, hatching success was reduced by 11% in clutches from the contaminated site. In surviving larvae, the frequency of developmental abnormalities and abnormal swimming was 55–58% higher in the contaminated site relative to the reference site. Craniofacial abnormalities were nearly an order of magnitude more prevalent in hatchlings from the contaminated site. When all developmental criteria were considered collectively, offspring from the contaminated site experienced 19% lower viability. Although there was no statistical relationship between the concentration of Se or Sr transferred to eggs and any measure of offspring viability, our study demonstrates that maternal transfer may be an important route of contaminant exposure in amphibians that has been overlooked.
DOI
10.1289/ehp.8457
Original Citation
Hopkins WA, DuRant SE, Staub BP, Rowe CL, Jackson BP. Reproduction, embryonic development, and maternal transfer of contaminants in the amphibian Gastrophryne carolinensis. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 May;114(5):661-6. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8457. PMID: 16675417; PMCID: PMC1459916.
Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation
Hopkins, William Alexander; DuRant, Sarah Elizabeth; Staub, Brandon Patrick; Rowe, Christopher Lee; and Jackson, Brian Phillip, "Reproduction, Embryonic Development, and Maternal Transfer of Contaminants in the Amphibian Gastrophryne Carolinensis" (2006). Dartmouth Scholarship. 3554.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/3554